U.S. patent application number 13/816033 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-30 for vehicle seat and seat back board.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is Shinji Awata, Hideki Kobayashi, Hisaya Mori. Invention is credited to Shinji Awata, Hideki Kobayashi, Hisaya Mori.
Application Number | 20130134749 13/816033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44630524 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130134749 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Awata; Shinji ; et
al. |
May 30, 2013 |
VEHICLE SEAT AND SEAT BACK BOARD
Abstract
A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame that has a pair of
side frames, and that forms a skeleton member of a seat back, a
back board portion that is formed by a resin plate, and that is
disposed at a back side of the seat back frame, and a back spring
section that is at least partially formed of resin, and that is
integral with the back board portion, and that spans between the
pair of side frames so as to be directly supported, and that is
formed so as to be able to flexurally deform in a load application
direction due to load toward a seat back rear side being
applied.
Inventors: |
Awata; Shinji; (Aichi-gun,
JP) ; Kobayashi; Hideki; (Miyoshi-shi, JP) ;
Mori; Hisaya; (Toyota-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Awata; Shinji
Kobayashi; Hideki
Mori; Hisaya |
Aichi-gun
Miyoshi-shi
Toyota-shi |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Toyota-shi, Aichi
JP
|
Family ID: |
44630524 |
Appl. No.: |
13/816033 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
July 29, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2011/067911 |
371 Date: |
February 8, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/216.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/427 20130101;
B60N 2/5825 20130101; B60N 2/7094 20130101; B60N 2/66 20130101;
B60N 2/68 20130101; B60N 2/72 20130101; B60N 2/64 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/216.13 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/64 20060101
B60N002/64; B60N 2/427 20060101 B60N002/427 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 10, 2010 |
JP |
2010-179871 |
Sep 27, 2010 |
JP |
2010-216011 |
Claims
1. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat back frame that comprises a
pair of side frames, and that forms a skeleton member of a seat
back; a back board portion that is formed by a resin plate, and
that is disposed at a back side of the seat back frame; and a back
spring section that is at least partially formed of resin, and that
is integral with the back board portion, and that spans between the
pair of side frames so as to be directly supported, and that is
formed so as to be able to flexurally deform in a load application
direction due to load toward a seat back rear side being applied,
wherein the back spring section comprises spring main bodies that
are disposed at a distance toward a vehicle front side from the
back board portion and that flexurally deform, and the flexural
deformation of the back spring section toward the seat back rear
side is limited by the spring main bodies abutting the back board
portion.
2. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the back spring section is
supported at the side frames via abutting surfaces that planarly
contact the pair of side frames and receive load.
3. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the back spring section is
fitted at a seat back front side, onto front portions of the pair
of side frames.
4. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the back spring section
comprises: connecting/fixing portions that connect both ends in a
seat transverse direction of the spring main bodies and the back
board portion and that are fixed to the side frames.
5. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the spring main bodies
comprise lower back spring main bodies that are disposed at a lower
portion of the back board portion and are arranged plurally in a
seat back height direction, and an upper back spring main body that
is disposed at an upper portion of the back board portion, and both
ends in the seat transverse direction of the lower back spring main
bodies that are plurally provided are connected in the seat back
height direction by a pair of the connecting/fixing portions.
6. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the pair of side frames are
made to be open cross-sectional shapes at which inner sides, that
oppose one another in the seat transverse direction, are open, and
the both ends in the seat transverse direction of the spring main
bodies are configured to enter inside cross-sections of the pair of
side frames.
7. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising a limiting
component, that comprises a wall that limits an amount of flexure
of the back spring section in the load application direction, the
limiting component being disposed at a seat back rear side of the
back spring section.
8. The vehicle seat of claim 7, wherein the limiting component is
the back board portion.
9. The vehicle seat of claim 8, wherein the wall of the limiting
component is a bottom wall of a concave portion that is provided at
a seat transverse direction central portion of the back board
portion and is concave toward the back spring section.
10. The vehicle seat of claim 7, wherein the limiting component is
disposed at a seat back rear side of the spring main bodies.
11. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the spring main bodies
comprise springs made of resin.
12. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the spring main bodies
comprise springs made of cloth that flexurally deform in the load
application direction by extending at a time of application of load
toward the seat back rear side.
13. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising: a seat back
pad that is disposed at a front surface side of the back spring
section; and a cover that covers a surface of the seat back pad,
wherein the back spring section comprises a plurality of back
spring main bodies that are disposed along a seat transverse
direction between the pair of side frames, and are arranged
plurally in a seat back height direction, the plurality of back
spring main bodies comprises an upper back spring main body that is
disposed in a position corresponding to an upper back of a
passenger, and a lower back spring main body that is disposed in a
position corresponding to a waist of the passenger, and the upper
back spring main body is fixed to the pair of side frames at
positions further offset toward a vehicle rear side from positions
where the lower back spring main body is fixed to the pair of side
frames.
14. The vehicle seat of claim 13, wherein both ends in the seat
transverse direction of the upper back spring main body are
supported at rear portions of the pair of side frames, and both
ends in the seat transverse direction of the lower back spring main
body are supported at front portions of the pair of side
frames.
15. The vehicle seat of claim 13, wherein each of the side frame
comprises a side portion that extends in a seat longitudinal
direction in planar sectional view and includes a front portion of
the side frame, and a rear flange portion that is bent toward a
seat transverse direction inner side from a rear end of the side
portion and includes a rear portion of the side frame, and the ends
in the seat transverse direction of the upper back spring main body
are fixed to the rear flange portions via upper fixing
portions.
16. The vehicle seat of claim 13, further comprising a pair of
lower fixing portions, that are disposed at a seat back front side
of the side frames and are fixed to the side frames, the pair of
lower fixing portions being integral with the both ends in the seat
transverse direction of the lower back spring main body, wherein
the lower back spring main body is formed of resin.
17. The vehicle seat of claim 16, wherein a plurality of the lower
back spring main bodies are provided in the seat back height
direction, and the both ends in a seat transverse direction of the
plurality of lower back spring main bodies are connected in the
seat back height direction by the pair of lower fixing portions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
USC 119 from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2010-179871 filed on
Aug. 10, 2010, and No. 2010-216011 filed on Sep. 27, 2010, the
disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat and a seat
back board.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Vehicle seats are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2004-138156, Japanese Utility Model
Application Laid-Open No. 05-055945, and JP-A No. 08-308675. In
particular, a vehicle seat that uses seat back springs formed of
resin is disclosed in JP-A No. 2004-138156. To describe briefly, a
seat back frame is formed in an inverse U shape in front view.
Plural hook portions are welded at predetermined intervals in the
seat height direction to the respective inner side surfaces of left
and right side frames. Further, resin springs, that are formed in
substantially rectangular plate shapes in front view, are anchored
on the hook portions of the left and right side frames. By
replacing conventional seat back springs with resin springs in this
way, a lightening of the weight of and a reduction in the cost of
the seat parts is devised.
[0006] However, because a vehicle seat is structured by numerous
parts, further lightening of the weight and reduction in costs is
desirable.
[0007] Further, JP-A No. 7-291005 discloses a technique of causing
seat back springs, that are structured by S springs to span between
a pair of left and right side frames of a seat back frame, and
connecting the both ends of the seat back springs and the side
frames by connecting members that can extend and contract in the
vehicle longitudinal (front-rear) direction. The connecting members
are structured such that, when load of a predetermined value or
greater is applied, the connecting members extend toward the seat
back rear side.
[0008] In accordance with the above-described structure, when, at
the time of a rear collision, the passenger is pushed against the
seat back and a load of a predetermined value or greater is applied
to the connecting members, the connecting members extend toward the
seat back rear side. As a result, the posture of the passenger is
maintained, the upper body of the passenger moves toward the seat
back upper side, the head becoming offset from the head rest
supporting position is suppressed, and this structure thereby
attempts to reduce the load to the neck of the passenger.
[0009] However, in the above-described structure, since each of the
both ends of the seat back springs, that are disposed in plural
stages, and the side frames are connected by one connecting member
each, a large number of parts are required, which leads to
increases in weight and cost.
SUMMARY
[0010] In view of the above-described circumstances, the present
invention provides a vehicle seat that can sufficiently ensure the
cushioning performance of a seat back, and further, can devise a
further lightening of weight and reduction in costs.
[0011] Moreover, the present invention provides a vehicle seat and
a seat back board that, by a simple structure, can reduce the load
to the neck of a passenger at the time of a rear collision.
[0012] An aspect of the present invention is a vehicle seat
including: a seat back frame that includes a pair of side frames,
and that forms a skeleton member of a seat back; a back board
portion that is formed by a resin plate, and that is disposed at a
back side of the seat back frame; and a back spring section that is
at least partially formed of resin, and that is integral with the
back board portion, and that spans between the pair of side frames
so as to be directly supported, and that is formed so as to be able
to flexurally deform in a load application direction due to load
toward a seat back rear side being applied.
[0013] In accordance with the present aspect, the back board
portion, that is formed by a resin plate, is disposed at the back
surface side of the seat back frame that structures the skeleton
member of the seat back. The back spring section, that is formed of
resin and that spans between the pair of side frames so as to be
directly supported, is integral with or is provided integrally with
the back board portion. Therefore, when a passenger sits in the
vehicle seat, load toward the seat back rear side is applied to the
back spring section, and that load is transmitted to and supported
at the pair of side frames. Further, at this time, the back spring
section flexurally deforms in the load application direction.
[0014] In this way, in the present aspect, when load is applied
from the passenger to the back spring section, the back spring
section flexurally deforms and contributes to ensuring the
cushioning ability of the seat back, and the load is transmitted to
the side frames and supported at the side frames. As a result, the
cushioning performance of the seat back is ensured sufficiently.
Further, because the back spring section is made of resin and is
integral with or provided integrally with the back board portion,
the number of parts and the number of assembly processes is reduced
as compared with a case in which the back spring section is
structured by seat back springs that are made of metal.
[0015] In this way, in the vehicle seat relating to the present
aspect, the cushioning performance of the seat back can be
sufficiently ensured, and a further lightening of weight and
reduction in cost can be devised.
[0016] In the present aspect, the back spring section may be
supported at the side frames via abutting surfaces that planarly
contact the pair of side frames and receive load.
[0017] In accordance with this structure, when load at the time of
sitting is applied from the passenger to the back spring section,
that load is received at abutting surfaces that planarly contact
the side frames, and is transmitted to the side frames. Namely, the
load at the time of sitting is received at a "surface" that the
back spring section has, and can be transmitted to the side frames.
Therefore, a high load being applied locally to the back spring
section that is formed of a resin material is suppressed.
[0018] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, the durability of the back spring section that is formed
of a resin material is improved.
[0019] In the present aspect, the back spring section may be fitted
at a seat back front side, onto front portions of the pair of side
frames (i.e., fit-together, from a seat back front side, with front
portions of the pair of side frames).
[0020] In accordance with this structure, the back spring section,
that is integral with or is provided integrally with the back board
portion, is fitted at the seat back front side, onto the front
portions of the pair of side frames. Therefore, not only is the
assembling ability extremely good, but also, the load at the time
of sitting that is applied from the passenger to the back spring
section can be received not only in the direction in which the back
spring section comes apart from the side frames, but also in the
direction in which the back spring section is fit-together with the
side frames. Therefore, the load at the time of sitting can be
received extremely rationally.
[0021] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, the assembly workability is improved, and the load, that
is applied from the passenger to the back spring section, can be
smoothly transmitted to the side frames.
[0022] In the present aspect, the back spring section may include
spring main bodies that are disposed at a distance from each other
at a front side of the back board portion and that flexurally
deform; and connecting/fixing portions that connect both ends in a
seat transverse direction of the spring main bodies and the back
board portion and that are fixed to the side frames.
[0023] In accordance with this structure, because the back spring
section has connecting/fixing portions in addition to the spring
main bodies, it suffices for the performances relating to fixing to
the side frames to be ensured by the connecting/fixing portions.
Namely, the required characteristics relating to fixing to the side
frames, and the flexing characteristics required of the spring main
bodies, can be designed separately. Therefore, it is unlikely that
a situation arises in which one characteristic must be partially
sacrificed in order to sufficiently satisfy the other
characteristic.
[0024] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, designing of the back board portion is easy.
[0025] In the above-described structure, the spring main bodies may
include lower back spring main bodies that are disposed at a lower
portion of the back board portion and are arranged plurally in a
seat back height direction, and an upper back spring main body that
is disposed at an upper portion of the back board portion, and both
ends in the seat transverse direction of the lower back spring main
bodies that are plurally provided may be connected in the seat back
height direction by a pair of the connecting/fixing portions.
[0026] In accordance with this structure, the spring main bodies
include lower back spring main bodies and an upper back spring main
body, and the lower back spring main bodies are plurally provided
in the height direction of the seat back. Therefore, the waist of
the seated passenger can be elastically supported in a more
suitable state.
[0027] Moreover, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the
lower back spring main bodies that are plurally provided are
connected in the seat back height direction by the pair of
connecting/fixing portions, and therefore, the stress that arises
at the respective lower back spring main bodies is dispersed via
the connecting/fixing portions.
[0028] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, the waist supporting performance of the seated passenger
can be improved, and excessive stress concentrating at the
respective lower back spring main bodies can be mitigated.
[0029] In the above-described structure, the pair of left and right
side frames may be made to be open cross-sectional shapes at which
inner sides, that oppose one another in the seat transverse
direction, are open, and the both ends in the seat transverse
direction of the spring main bodies may be configured to enter
inside cross-sections of the pair of side frames.
[0030] In accordance with this structure, the pair of side frames
are made to be open cross-sectional shapes at which inner sides,
that oppose one another in the seat transverse direction, are open,
and the ends in the seat transverse direction of the spring main
bodies are configured to enter inside the cross-sections of the
side frames. Therefore, the length of the spring main body along
the seat transverse direction can be made to be long. Namely, the
entire length of the spring main body can be made to be long.
[0031] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, the amount of entry (sinking) of the back portion of the
seated passenger into the seat back can be increased, without
changing the thickness of the seat back.
[0032] The above-described structure may further include a limiting
component, that has a wall that limits an amount of flexure of the
spring main bodies in the load application direction, and the
limiting component may be disposed at a seat back rear side of the
spring main bodies.
[0033] In accordance with this structure, when load toward the seat
back rear side is applied to the spring main bodies, the spring
main bodies flexurally deform in the load application direction.
When the amount of flexure increases, the spring main bodies abut
the wall of the limiting component that is provided at the seat
back rear side of the spring main bodies. Therefore, the wall of
the limiting component also can be made to bear a portion of the
load that is applied to the spring main bodies.
[0034] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, by limiting the amount of flexure of the back spring
section to an appropriate range, stress that arises at the back
spring section that is made of resin can be mitigated also when an
excessive load is applied to the back spring section.
[0035] In the above-described structure, the limiting component may
be the back board portion.
[0036] In accordance with this structure, because the limiting
component is structured by the back board portion, the number of
parts does not increase.
[0037] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, a flexure amount limiting effect of the back spring
section can be obtained without leading to an increase in costs due
to an increase in the number of parts.
[0038] In the above-described structure, the wall of the limiting
component may be a bottom wall of a concave portion that is
provided at a seat transverse direction central portion of the back
board portion and is concave toward (in a direction of approaching)
the back spring section.
[0039] In accordance with this structure, the wall of the limiting
component is structured by the bottom wall of a concave portion
that is concave toward the back spring section at a seat transverse
direction central portion of the back board portion. Therefore, the
amount of flexure of the back spring section can be limited to any
extent by varying the depth of the concave portion at the time of
resin molding of the back spring section. Further, the concave
portion can be utilized as a space for leg placement of a passenger
who is seated in a rear seat.
[0040] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, adjustment of the flexing limit of the back spring
section can be carried out easily, and the leg placement ability of
a passenger seated in a rear seat is also improved.
[0041] In the above-described structure, the spring main bodies may
include springs made of resin, or the spring main bodies may
include springs made of cloth that flexurally deform in the load
application direction by extending at a time of application of load
toward the seat back rear side.
[0042] In accordance with this structure, as compared with springs
that are made of resin, the springs that are made of cloth are
superior in that it is difficult for creep deformation to occur,
they are strong against fatigue, and there is little change in the
seating comfort due to temperature-dependent characteristics
(expansion in a high-temperature environment and contraction in a
low-temperature environment).
[0043] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, the cushioning performance of the seat back is improved
even more.
[0044] The present aspect may further include a limiting component,
that includes a wall that limits an amount of flexure of the back
spring section in the load application direction, and the limiting
component may be disposed at a seat back rear side of the back
spring section.
[0045] In accordance with this structure, when load toward the seat
back rear side is applied to the spring main bodies, the spring
main bodies flexurally deform in the load application direction.
When the amount of flexure increases, the spring main bodies abut
the wall of the limiting component that is provided at the seat
back rear side of the spring main bodies. Therefore, the wall of
the limiting component also can be made to bear a portion of the
load that is applied to the spring main bodies.
[0046] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, by limiting the amount of flexure of the back spring
section to an appropriate range, stress that arises at the back
spring section that is made of resin can be mitigated also when an
excessive load is applied to the back spring section.
[0047] In the above-described structure, the limiting component may
be the back board portion.
[0048] In accordance with this structure, because the limiting
component is structured by the back board portion, the number of
parts does not increase.
[0049] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, a flexure amount limiting effect of the back spring
section can be obtained without leading to an increase in costs due
to an increase in the number of parts.
[0050] In the above-described structure, the wall of the limiting
component may be a bottom wall of a concave portion that is
provided at a seat transverse direction central portion of the back
board portion and is concave toward the back spring section.
[0051] In accordance with this structure, the wall of the limiting
component is structured by the bottom wall of a concave portion
that is concave toward the back spring section at a seat transverse
direction central portion of the back board portion. Therefore, the
amount of flexure of the back spring section can be limited to any
extent by varying the depth of the concave portion at the time of
resin molding of the back spring section. Further, the concave
portion can be utilized as a space for leg placement of a passenger
who is seated in a rear seat.
[0052] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, adjustment of the flexing limit of the back spring
section can be carried out easily, and the leg placement ability of
a passenger seated in a rear seat is improved.
[0053] The vehicle seat of the present aspect may further include:
a seat back pad that is disposed at a front surface side of the
back spring section; and a cover that covers a surface of the seat
back pad, wherein the back spring section includes plural back
spring main bodies that are disposed along a seat transverse
direction between the pair of side frames, and are arranged
plurally in a seat back height direction, the plural back spring
main bodies includes an upper back spring main body that is
disposed in a position corresponding to an upper back of a
passenger, and a lower back spring main body that is disposed in a
position corresponding to a waist of the passenger, and the upper
back spring main body is fixed to the pair of side frames at
positions further offset toward a vehicle rear side from positions
where the lower back spring main body is fixed to the pair of side
frames.
[0054] In the above configuration, both ends in the seat transverse
direction of the upper back spring main body may be supported at
rear portions of the pair of side frames, and both ends in the seat
transverse direction of the lower back spring main body may be
supported at front portions of the pair of side frames.
[0055] In accordance with this structure, when the passenger is
pushed against the seat back at the time of a rear collision, the
chest (upper portion of the back) of the passenger is supported by
the upper back spring main body that is provided correspondingly,
and the waist of the passenger is supported by the lower back
spring main bodies that are provided correspondingly.
[0056] Here, in the present structure, the both ends in the seat
transverse direction of the lower back spring main bodies are
supported at the front portions of the pair of side frames, whereas
the both ends in the seat transverse direction of the upper back
spring main body are supported at the rear portions of the pair of
side frames. Therefore, the rise in the acceleration that is
applied to the upper back of the passenger at the time of a rear
collision can be delayed. Namely, if the both ends in the seat
transverse direction of the upper back spring main body were to be
supported at the front portions of the pair of side frames in the
same way as the lower back spring main bodies, the rise in the
acceleration applied to the upper back of the passenger would be
earlier by an amount corresponding to the amount because the
supporting position is further toward the seat back front side than
in the structure of the present aspect. In contrast, when the
supporting position of the upper back spring main body at the side
frames is offset toward the seat back rear side as in the present
aspect, the rise in the acceleration that is applied to the upper
back of the passenger can be delayed thereby. Accordingly, the rise
in the acceleration that is applied to the upper back of the
passenger can be made to be near the rise in the acceleration of
the head of the passenger.
[0057] Further, because the present structure provides a
difference, in the seat longitudinal direction, between the fixed
positions of the upper back spring main body and the lower back
spring main bodies to the side frames, the number of parts does not
increase.
[0058] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with the
present structure, the load to the neck of the passenger at the
time of a rear collision can be reduced by a simple structure.
[0059] In the above-described structure, each of the side frame may
include a side portion that extends in a seat longitudinal
direction in planar sectional view and includes a front portion of
the side frame, and a rear flange portion that is bent toward a
seat transverse direction inner side from a rear end of the side
portion and includes a rear portion of the side frame, and the ends
in the seat transverse direction of the upper back spring main body
may be fixed to the rear flange portions via upper fixing
portions.
[0060] In accordance with this structure, the side frame has a side
portion and a rear flange portion. The ends in the seat transverse
direction of the upper back spring main body are fixed via the
upper fixing portions to the rear flange portions, and not the side
portions of the side frames. Therefore, when load toward the seat
back rear is applied at the time of a rear collision, hardly any
excess length arises in the upper back spring main body. If the
ends in the seat transverse direction of the upper back spring main
body were fixed to the side portions of the side frames, the
following behavior would be exhibited when load toward the seat
back rear side is applied. That is, the corners of the ends in the
seat transverse direction of the upper back spring main body are
pulled and extended toward the vehicle rear side. Therefore, it is
predicted that the spring constant of the upper back spring main
body departs from the target value and that the amount of flexure
increases. In contrast, in this structure, the spring constant of
the upper back spring main body is substantially as per the target
value, and the error is small.
[0061] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, the accuracy with respect to reducing the load to the
neck of the passenger at the time of a rear collision is
increased.
[0062] The above-described structure may further include a pair of
lower fixing portions, that are disposed at a seat back front side
of the side frames and are fixed to the side frames, the pair of
lower fixing portions being integral with the both ends in the seat
transverse direction of the lower back spring main body, wherein
the lower back spring main body is formed of resin.
[0063] In accordance with this structure, the pair of lower fixing
portions are provided at the both ends in the seat transverse
direction of the lower back spring main bodies, and these lower
fixing portions are hooked on the side frames from the seat back
front side. Therefore, at the time of sitting, the load received
from the passenger is transmitted from the lower back spring main
bodies via the pair of lower fixing portions to the side frames.
Meanwhile, at the time of a rear collision, the chest (the upper
portion of the back) of the passenger enters (sinks) into the seat
back because the fixed position of the upper back spring main body
is offset further toward the seat back rear side than the fixed
positions of the lower back spring main bodies.
[0064] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat in accordance with this
structure, the load received from the passenger at the time of
sitting can be efficiently transmitted to the side frames, and the
load to the neck of the passenger at the time of a rear collision
can be effectively reduced.
[0065] In the above-described structure, plural lower back spring
main bodies may be provided in the seat back height direction, and
the both ends in a seat transverse direction of the plural lower
back spring main bodies may be connected in the seat back height
direction by the pair of lower fixing portions.
[0066] In accordance with this structure, the plural lower back
spring main bodies are provided in the seat back height direction,
and the majority of the load that is applied when the passenger
sits is received while being dispersed at these lower back spring
main bodies. Accordingly, the burden of the load on each of the
lower back spring main bodies is reduced. Further, the cushioning
ability at the time of sitting is improved because the waist of the
passenger is supported at the plural lower back spring main
bodies.
[0067] Accordingly, in the vehicle seat relating to this structure,
the durability of the lower back spring main bodies can be
improved, and the cushioning ability at the time of sitting is
improved such that fatigue of a passenger can be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0068] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
[0069] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a seat back of a
vehicle seat relating to a first exemplary embodiment;
[0070] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a seat
back board is assembled to a seat back frame shown in FIG. 1;
[0071] FIG. 3 is an enlarged planar sectional view showing an
assembled state of the seat back shown in FIG. 1;
[0072] FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the
assembled state of the seat back shown in FIG. 1;
[0073] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a seat back board relating
to a second exemplary embodiment;
[0074] FIG. 6 is an enlarged planar sectional view taken along line
6-6 of FIG. 5;
[0075] FIG. 7 is an enlarged planar sectional view showing an
assembled state of a seat back, relating to a modified example of
the second exemplary embodiment;
[0076] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a seat back board relating
to a third exemplary embodiment;
[0077] FIG. 9 is an enlarged planar sectional view taken along line
9-9 of FIG. 8;
[0078] FIG. 10 is an enlarged planar sectional view showing an
assembled state of a seat back, in a state of being cut along line
3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0079] FIG. 11 is an enlarged planar sectional view showing the
assembled state of the seat back, in a state of being cut along
line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
[0080] FIG. 12 is an explanatory drawing for explaining effects of
a fourth exemplary embodiment, and is a side view showing the
situation at the time of a rear collision in a state in which a
passenger is seated on a vehicle seat of the fourth exemplary
embodiment; and
[0081] FIG. 13A through FIG. 13C are explanatory drawings for
explaining effects of the fourth exemplary embodiment, where FIG.
13A is a planar sectional view showing the main structure of the
fourth exemplary embodiment in a state in which a passenger is
seated, FIG. 13B is a planar sectional view showing a main
structure relating to a comparative example in a state in which a
passenger is seated, and FIG. 13C is a planar sectional view
showing the main structure of the comparative example when a rear
collision has occurred.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0082] A first exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat is described
hereinafter using FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. Arrow FR that is shown in
these drawings indicates the vehicle front side, arrow UP indicates
the vehicle upper side, and arrow IN indicates the vehicle
transverse direction inner side.
[0083] <Overall Structure>
[0084] An exploded perspective view of a seat back of a vehicle
seat relating to the present exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG.
1. Note that, in FIG. 1, the angles at which the respective
structural elements are viewed are drawn so as to vary slightly for
ease of viewing. Further, a vertical sectional view of the vehicle
seat having this seat back is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in these
figures, a vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion 11 (see FIG. 4)
on which a passenger sits, a seat back 12 that is reclinably
supported at the rear end of the seat cushion 11, and an
unillustrated headrest that is supported at the top end of the seat
back 12 so as to be able to move up and down.
[0085] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat back 12 includes a seat back
frame 14 that is made of metal and structures a skeleton member of
the seat back 12, a resin-spring-integrated back board (hereinafter
simply called "seat back board") 16 that is mounted to the front
surface side of the seat back frame 14, a seat back pad 18 that
structures a cushion member of the seat back 12 and is mounted from
the front surface side of the seat back board 16 and is supported
at the seat back frame 14, a cover (surface skin) 20 that covers
mainly the front surface of the seat back pad 18, and vertical
mounting members 22 and a lateral mounting member 24 for mounting
the cover 20 to the seat back board 16. The respective structural
elements are described in detail hereinafter.
[0086] <Structure of Seat Back Frame 14>
[0087] As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, the seat back frame 14 is
formed in a rectangular frame shape in front view (i.e., when
viewing from the front surface of the vehicle, and hereinafter,
description is given with the directions of the vehicle and the
directions of the vehicle seat 10 being the same). Specifically,
the seat back frame 14 includes a pair of left and right side
frames 26 that are disposed so as to oppose one another in the
vehicle transverse direction, an upper frame 28 that is inverse
U-shaped and connects the upper ends of the side frames 26 to one
another, and a lower frame 30 that connects the lower ends of the
side frames 26 to one another in the vehicle transverse direction.
The above-described seat back 12 is manufactured by all of the four
members including the upper frame 28 being press molded, but
embodiments are not limited thereto and another frame structure may
be employed. For example, the upper frame only may be structured by
a pipe member that is bent in an inverse U shape, or the upper
frame and the pair of side frames may be structured by a single
pipe member that is bent in an inverse U shape.
[0088] Next, the cross-sectional structure of the side frames 26 is
described. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the side frame 26 is
structured by a side wall 26A, a front wall 26B, and a rear wall
26C. When viewed solely, the side frame 26 is formed in a
substantial L shape in a planar sectional view, and, when viewed as
the left and right pair, the side frames 26 are formed in open
cross-sectional shapes whose inner sides, that oppose one another
in the seat transverse direction, are open in planar sectional
view. The length of the side wall 26A in the vehicle front-rear
(longitudinal) direction becomes more narrow from the lower end
toward the upper end. Further, plural mounting holes 32 (see FIG.
1) are formed in separate positions along the vertical direction in
the lower portion of the side wall 26A. The front wall 26B extends
from the front end of the side wall 26A via an arcuate surface
toward the seat transverse direction inner side, and is bent
rearward at a slight incline at the distal portion. The rear wall
26C extends from the rear end of the side wall 26A toward the seat
transverse direction inner side, and the distal end portion thereof
is bent at an incline toward the vehicle front side. The width of
the rear wall 26C is set to be sufficiently wider than the width of
the front wall 26B. Further, a mounting hole 34 (see FIG. 1) is
formed in the upper portion side of the rear wall 26C as well.
[0089] <Structure of Resin-Spring-Integrated Back Board (Seat
Back Board) 16>
[0090] Next, the structure of the seat back board 16 that is a main
structure of the vehicle seat 10 relating to the present exemplary
embodiment is described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG.
4 (and FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in particular), the seat back board 16 has
a back board portion 36 that is formed by a resin plate and is
disposed at the back surface side of the seat back frame 14, and a
back spring section 38 that is made of resin and is provided
integrally with the back board portion 36 and spans between the
pair of side frames 26 so as to be directly supported. The back
spring section 38 is formed so as to be able to flexurally deform
in a load application direction (toward the vehicle rear side) due
to load being applied toward the seat back rear side.
[0091] The back board portion 36 includes a board main body 40 that
is formed to be one size smaller than the seat back frame 14, and
an anchor frame 42 that is U-groove-shaped and is molded integrally
with the outer peripheral portion of the board main body 40.
Specifically, the board main body 40 is formed to be one size
smaller than the inner peripheral edge of the opening portion of
the seat back frame 14 that is formed in a substantially
rectangular frame shape. Further, in the state of being assembled
to the seat back frame 14, the board main body 40 is disposed
slightly toward the vehicle rear side, between the distal ends
(inner ends) of the rear walls 26C of the side frames 26.
Accordingly, the board main body 40 can be assembled from the
vehicle front side of the seat back frame 14 (see FIG. 3). The
cross-sectional shape of the anchor frame 42 is a U shape whose
vehicle rear side is open. This anchor frame 42 is used in order to
anchor the outer peripheral portion of the cover 20 that is
described hereafter, but also has the function of reinforcing the
plate-shaped board main body 40 and increasing the surface rigidity
of the back board portion 36 on the whole.
[0092] The back spring section 38 includes a lower back spring
section 44 that is formed integrally with the lower portion of the
back board portion 36, and an upper back spring section 46 that is
formed integrally with the upper portion of the back board portion
36. The upper back spring section 46 is provided independently at a
position that is set apart, by a predetermined distance in the seat
back height direction, from the lower back spring section 44.
[0093] The lower back spring section 44 includes three lower back
spring main bodies 48 that are disposed in parallel at three stages
(tiers) vertically in the seat back height direction, and lower
connecting/fixing portions 50 that connect the both ends in the
longitudinal directions (seat transverse direction) of these three
lower back spring main bodies 48 in the seat back height direction,
and connect them to the back board portion 36 as well, and are
fixed to the side frames 26. The number of the lower back spring
main bodies 48 that structure the lower back spring section 44 is
not limited, and may be changed appropriately in relation to the
cushioning performance that is required. For example, a single
lower back spring section may be provided by widening the vertical
width thereof, or, plural lower back spring main sections such as
two or four or more may be provided.
[0094] The planar sectional shape of the lower back spring main
body 48 is formed in a wave shape. A wave-shaped portion (flexing
portion) 48A extends due to load toward the back board portion 36
side (the vehicle rear side) being applied, and, due thereto, the
wave-shaped portion 48A flexurally (elastically) deforms toward the
back board portion 36 that is the load application direction.
Vertical resin claws 58, that are described later and are for
mounting the cover 20, are formed integrally in vicinities of both
ends 48B in the longitudinal direction of the lower back spring
main bodies 48 that are at the upper stage and the middle stage,
and the wave-shaped portions 48A are not formed at the regions
where these vertical resin claws 58 are formed.
[0095] As shown in FIG. 3, the above-described back board portion
36 is disposed at a position that is apart, by a predetermined
distance toward the vehicle rear side, from the lower back spring
section 44. Namely, a predetermined gap 52 is formed between the
lower back spring section 44 and the back board portion 36. The
lower back spring main bodies 48 are elastically deformable within
the range of this gap 52 (within the range of .delta.1). Namely,
the back board portion 36 functions as a limiting component that
limits the amount of flexure of the lower back spring section 44 to
less than or equal to a predetermined amount (less than or equal to
.delta.1).
[0096] The lower connecting/fixing portion 50 is formed in a
substantially inverse U shape as seen in planar sectional view, and
has an inner side wall 50A to which the longitudinal end 48B of the
lower back spring main body 48 is connected, an outer side wall 50B
that is disposed parallel to the inner side wall 50A and that is
anchored to the outer side surface of the side wall 26A of the side
frame 26 in a planarly-contacting state, a front wall 50C that
connects the front end of the inner side wall 50A and the front end
of the outer side wall 50B in the vehicle transverse direction and
is anchored to the front wall 26B of the side frame 26 in a partial
planarly-contacting state, and a rear wall 50D that is connected to
the back board portion 36 from the rear end of the inner side wall
50A with respect to the longitudinal end 48B of the lower back
spring main body 48. The above-described outer side wall 50B and
front wall 50C correspond to "abutting surfaces".
[0097] The both ends 48B in the seat transverse direction of the
above-described lower back spring main bodies 48 that are arranged
in three stages vertically are structured as flat portions at which
the wave-shaped portions 48A are not formed, and are connected to
one another by the pair of lower connecting/fixing portions 50.
Namely, the lower back spring main bodies 48 are provided at plural
stages in the seat back height direction, and the lower back spring
section 44 is made integral with the back board portion 36 due to
the longitudinal both ends of these lower back spring main bodies
48 being connected by the pair of lower connecting/fixing portions
50. The longitudinal direction dimension of the lower
connecting/fixing portions 50 is set such that the lower
connecting/fixing portions 50 include a range from the top edge of
the lower back spring main body 48 at the uppermost stage to the
bottom edge of the lower back spring main body 48 at the lowermost
stage.
[0098] The lower connecting/fixing portion 50 is fixed to the side
frame 26 due to the outer side wall 50B thereof being fixed, from
the seat transverse direction outer side, by an unillustrated
fixing means to the mounting holes 32 of the side wall 26A of the
side frame 26. Any of various configurations such as a
configuration in which resin clips are formed integrally with the
outer side wall 50B and are engaged with the mounting holes 32, or
a configuration that fastens by a fastening tool such as rivets,
screws, or bolts and weld nuts or the like, or a configuration of
adhering by an adhesive or the like, can be used as the fixing
means. In the state in which the lower connecting/fixing portion 50
is fixed to the side frame 26, the rear wall 50D is disposed in
parallel to the rear wall 26C of the side frame 26. Due thereto,
the end 48B in the longitudinal direction of the lower back spring
main body 48 enters inside the cross-section of the side frame
26.
[0099] The upper back spring section 46 is basically structured
similarly to the lower back spring section 44, and includes an
upper back spring main body 54 and upper connecting/fixing portions
56 that are described later. Further, a wave-shaped portion 54A is
formed at the upper back spring main body 54 so as to extend and
flexurally (elastically) deform when load toward the back board
portion 36 (the vehicle rear side) is applied. Moreover, in
addition to the vertical resin claws 58 being formed integrally at
both ends 54B in the longitudinal direction of the upper back
spring main body 54, lateral resin claws 60 are formed integrally
at the both ends 54B and the central portion in the longitudinal
direction. Further, the upper connecting/fixing portions 56 are
formed in shapes that protrude out toward the seat back transverse
direction outer sides, and are set to a longitudinal direction
dimension that is accommodated between the side walls 26A of the
above-described side frames 26. The upper connecting/fixing
portions 56 are fixed to the side frames 26 due to the upper
connecting/fixing portions 56 being fixed, from the seat rear side,
by an unillustrated fixing means to the mounting holes 34 of the
rear walls 26C.
[0100] In the present exemplary embodiment, as described above, the
back spring section 38 is configured by separately providing the
lower back spring section 44 and the upper back spring section 46,
but embodiments are not limited to the same, and the both may be
connected and formed integrally. Namely, a structure may be
employed in which the lower connecting/fixing portions 50 extend
toward the seat back upper side and further connect the both ends
in the longitudinal direction of the upper back spring main body
54. This configuration is described in the second exemplary
embodiment that is described hereafter.
[0101] Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, the upper back
spring section 46 includes only one stage (one spring section), but
embodiments are not limited to the same and may include plural
stages (plural spring sections). Alternately, a configuration in
which plural stages of back spring sections are provided at uniform
intervals from the upper portion to the lower portion of the back
board portion 36.
[0102] <Structure of Seat Back Pad 18>
[0103] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat back pad 18 generally includes
a pad central upper portion 62, a pad central lower portion 64, and
a pair of left and right pad side portions 66. The seat back pad 18
is fabricated of urethane foam or the like.
[0104] As shown in FIG. 4, the vertical sectional shape of the pad
central upper portion 62 is formed in a substantial J shape that is
turned upside-down and backwards. The pad central upper portion 62
is fixed, from the seat back upper side, to the upper frame 28 of
the seat back frame 14. The vertical sectional shape of the pad
central lower portion 64 is formed in a substantial J shape that is
turned backwards. Further, the lower portion of the pad central
lower portion 64 forms a shape that bulges-out in a convexly curved
shape toward the vehicle front side than the upper portion of the
pad central lower portion 64. This pad central lower portion 64 is
fixed, from the seat back lower side, on a connecting rod 68 that
connects the lower ends of the side frames 26 in the seat
transverse direction. The connecting rod 68 is disposed in parallel
at the front side of the lower frame 30 of the seat back frame
14.
[0105] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lateral sectional shape of
the pad side portion 66 is formed in a substantial C shape. This
pad side portion 66 is mounted so as to be trained around the side
frame 26 that is in a state in which the lower connecting/fixing
portion 50 is mounted thereto. The lower portion of the pad side
portion 66 forms a shape that bulges-out in a convexly curved shape
toward the vehicle front side than the upper portion of the pad
side portion 66. Further, the pad side portion 66 has a shape that
protrudes out further toward the vehicle front side than the pad
central upper portion 62 and the pad central upper portion 64 in
order to ensure a side supporting ability for the passenger.
[0106] Returning to FIG. 4, in vertical sectional view, the seat
back board 16 is disposed so as to range from a back side lower end
62A of the pad central upper portion 62 to a back side upper end
64A of the pad central lower portion 64. Specifically, the back
side upper end 64A of the pad central lower portion 64 is formed to
be thinner than the back side lower end 62A, and the lower end of
the back board portion 36 is disposed at that thinner portion so as
to be overlapped in the front-rear direction (at the rear side
thereof).
[0107] A lateral slit 70, that serves as a pass-through groove for
suspending-in the cover 20, is formed between the above-described
pad central upper portion 62 and pad central lower portion 64.
Further, a pair of left and right vertical slits 72 for
suspending-in the cover 20 is formed between the pad central upper
portion 62, the pad central lower portion 64, and the pad side
portions 66.
[0108] The slit widths of the lateral slit 70 and the vertical
slits 72 are set to lengths such that the vertical mounting members
22 and the lateral mounting member 24, that are described
hereafter, can be inserted through. Further, all of these lateral
slit 70 and vertical slits 72 are formed in rectilinear shapes, and
pass-through the seat back pad 18 in the thickness direction
thereof (that is the vehicle front-rear direction).
[0109] <Structure of Cover 20>
[0110] As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 20 is formed to a size such
that it can cover the seat back pad 18 from the front side.
Further, the cover 20 has a cover central upper portion 74, a cover
central lower portion 76, and a pair of left and right cover side
portions 78, in accordance with the divided structure of the seat
back pad 18.
[0111] <Mounting Structure of Cover 20>
[0112] The cover 20 is mounted by the vertical mounting members 22,
the lateral mounting member 24, the vertical resin claws 58, the
lateral resin claws 60, an outer periphery anchor portion 80, and
the like.
[0113] <Structures of Vertical Mounting Members 22 and Lateral
Mounting Member 24>
[0114] As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical mounting member 22 is
structured by a mounting member main body 22A that is formed in the
shape of a strip, and an engaging portion 22B that is made of resin
and provided at one edge of the main body 22A and is formed in a
wedge shape. The other edge of the main body 22A is mounted in
advance by sewing to the cover central upper portion 74, the cover
central lower portion 76, and the cover side portion 78. Note that,
in FIG. 1, the vertical mounting members 22 (and the lateral
mounting member 24) are shown so as to be separated from the cover
20, but the vertical mounting members 22 (and the lateral mounting
member 24) are actually mounted to the cover 20 in advance.
[0115] In correspondence therewith, the vertical resin claws 58 are
formed integrally at the back spring main bodies 48, further toward
the both outer sides in the seat transverse direction than the
wave-shaped portions 48A. The engaging portions 22B of the vertical
mounting members 22 can elastically engage with the vertical resin
claws 58. Further, the central portion of the cover 20 is mounted
to the seat back board 16 in the vertical direction, by elastically
engaging the engaging portions 22B of the pair of vertical mounting
members 22 with the corresponding vertical resin claws 58 of the
respective back spring main bodies 48.
[0116] Similarly, the lateral mounting member 24 is structured by a
mounting member main body 24A that is formed in the shape of a
strip, and an engaging portion 24B that is made of resin and
provided at one edge of the main body 24A and is formed in a wedge
shape. The other edge of the main body 24A is mounted in advance by
sewing to the cover central upper portion 74, the cover central
lower portion 76.
[0117] In correspondence therewith, the lateral resin claws 60 are
formed integrally at the back spring main body 48 that is disposed
at the uppermost stage, at the central portion in the seat
transverse direction and at two places at the both outer sides
thereof. The engaging portion 24B of the lateral mounting member 24
can be elastically engaged with the lateral resin claws 60.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the central portion of the cover 20 is
mounted to the seat back board 16 in the lateral direction, by
elastically engaging the engaging portion 24B of the lateral
mounting member 24 that is provided at three places, with the
respective lateral resin claws 60 of the back spring main body 48
that is disposed at the uppermost stage.
[0118] Moreover, the outer periphery anchor portion (piece) 80,
that is formed in the shape of an arrowhead, is mounted by sewing
to an appropriate position of the outer periphery of the cover 20.
The outer periphery anchor piece 80 is inserted, from the vehicle
rear side, and anchored to the anchor frame 42 of the back board
portion 36. Due thereto, the outer periphery of the cover 20 is
removably anchored to the back board portion 36.
Operation and Effects of Present Exemplary Embodiment
[0119] The operation and effects of the present exemplary
embodiment are described next.
[0120] The above-described vehicle seat 10 has the seat back board
16 at which the back spring section 38 that is made of resin is
formed integrally with the back board portion 36 that is made of
resin. Further, this seat back board 16 is fit-together, from the
vehicle front side, with the seat back frame 14 that is made of
metal. Specifically, the lower connecting/fixing portions 50 are
fit-together with the side frames 26 from the vehicle front side,
and, in this state, are fixed to the side frames 26 from the seat
transverse direction outer sides. Further, the upper
connecting/fixing portions 56 are inserted into the inner sides of
the side frames 26 from the vehicle front side, and thereafter, are
fixed to the rear walls 26C from the vehicle front side.
Thereafter, the seat back pad 18 is mounted to the seat back frame
14 from the vehicle front side, and further, the cover 20 is placed
on the seat back pad 18. The vertical mounting members 22 and the
lateral mounting member 24 are fixed in advance to the cover 20 by
sewing, and, while the cover 20 is being placed on the seat back
pad 18, the vertical mounting members 22 and the lateral mounting
member 24 are inserted in and anchored to the corresponding
vertical slits 72 and lateral slit 70.
[0121] The seat cushion 11 and the unillustrated headrest are
mounted to the seat back 12 that is assembled as described above,
so as to form the vehicle seat 10. When a passenger sits in the
vehicle seat 10, load toward the seat back rear side (this is
expressed by arrow F in FIG. 3) is applied to the back spring
section 38 via the cover 20 and the seat back pad 18. Therefore,
the lower back spring main bodies 48 and the upper back spring main
body 54 flexurally deform toward the seat back rear side that is
the load application direction (refer to the two-dot chain line in
FIG. 3). Further, because the load at this time is transmitted to
the side frames 26 by the lower connecting/fixing portions 50 and
the upper connecting/fixing portions 56, reaction force (this is
expressed by arrow fin FIG. 3) toward the vehicle front side is
generated from the side frames 26.
[0122] In this way, in the present exemplary embodiment, when load
is applied from the passenger to the back spring section 38, the
back spring section 38 flexurally deforms and contributes to
ensuring the cushioning ability of the seat back 12, and the load
is transmitted to the side frames 26 and supported at the side
frames 26. As a result, the cushioning performance of the seat back
12 is ensured sufficiently. Further, because the back spring
section 38 is made of resin and is provided integrally with the
back board portion 36, the number of parts and the number of
assembly processes is reduced as compared with a case in which the
back spring section 38 is formed by seat back springs that are made
of metal. As a result, in accordance with the present exemplary
embodiment, the cushioning performance of the seat back 12 can be
ensured sufficiently, and further lightening of weight and
reduction in cost can be devised.
[0123] Further, as described above, when load at the time of
sitting is applied from the passenger to the back spring section
38, and in particular to the lower back spring section 44 that
supports the waist of the passenger, that load is received at the
front walls 50C that planarly contact the side frames 26, and is
transmitted to the side frames 26. Namely, the load at the time of
sitting is received at a "surface" that the back spring section 38
has, and can be transmitted to the side frames 26. Therefore, a
high load is not applied locally to the lower back spring section
44 that is formed of a resin material. As a result, the durability
of the lower back spring section 44 that is formed of a resin
material is improved.
[0124] Moreover, because the lower back spring section 44 in
particular that is provided integrally with the back board portion
36 is fit-together, from the seat back front side, with the front
portions of the pair of side frames 26, the assembling ability
extremely is good. Further, due to this configuration, the load at
the time of sitting that is applied from the passenger to the lower
back spring section 44 can be received not only in the direction in
which the lower back spring section 44 comes apart from the side
frames 26, but also in the direction in which the lower back spring
section 44 is fit-together with the side frames 26. Accordingly,
the load at the time of sitting can be received extremely
rationally. As a result, the assembly workability of the seat back
board 16, and eventually the vehicle seat 10, is improved, and the
load applied from the passenger to the back spring section 38 can
be smoothly transmitted to the side frames 26.
[0125] Further, the lower back spring section 44 and the upper back
spring section 46 have the lower connecting/fixing portions 50 and
the upper connecting/fixing portions 56, in addition to the lower
back spring main bodies 48 and the upper back spring main body 54.
Therefore, it suffices for the performances relating to fixing to
the side frames 26 to be ensured by the lower connecting/fixing
portions 50 and the upper connecting fixing portions 56. Namely,
the required characteristics relating to fixing to the side frames
26, and the flexing characteristics required of the lower back
spring main bodies 48 and the upper back spring main body 54 can be
designed separately. Therefore, it is unlikely that a situation
arises in which one characteristic must be partially sacrificed in
order to sufficiently satisfy the other characteristic. As a
result, in accordance with the present exemplary embodiment,
designing of the back board portion 36 is easy.
[0126] Moreover, because the lower back spring main bodies 48 of
the lower back spring section 44 are plurally provided in the
height direction of the seat back, the waist of the seated
passenger can be elastically supported in a suitable state.
Further, because the lower connecting/fixing portions 50 are
provided in a range that extends from the top edge of the lower
back spring main body 48 that is provided at the uppermost stage to
the bottom edge of the lower back spring main body 48 that is
provided at the lowermost stage, the stress generated by the
respective lower back spring main bodies 48 when the passenger sits
on the vehicle seat 10 is dispersed via the lower connecting/fixing
portions 50. As a result, the waist supporting performance of the
seated passenger is improved, and excessively large stress
concentrating at the respective lower back spring main bodies 48
can be mitigated.
[0127] Further, the pair of side frames 26 is made to be open
cross-sectional shapes whose inner sides, that oppose one another
in the seat transverse direction, are open, and the longitudinal
ends 48B of the lower back spring main bodies 48 are configured to
enter inside the cross-sections of the side frames 26. Therefore,
the lengths, along the seat transverse direction, of the lower back
spring main bodies 48 can be made to be long. Namely, the entire
lengths of the lower back spring main bodies 48 can be made to be
long. As a result, the amount of entry (sinking) of the back
portion of the seated passenger can be increased without changing
the thickness of the seat back 12.
[0128] Moreover, when load toward the seat back rear side is
applied to the back spring section 38, the back spring section 38
flexurally deforms in the load application direction. When the
amount of flexure increases, the back spring section 38 abuts the
front surface of the back board portion 36 that is provided at the
seat back rear side of the back spring section 38. Therefore, the
back board portion 36, that is a wall of the limiting component,
can also partially bear the load that is applied to the back spring
section 38. As a result, in accordance with the present exemplary
embodiment, by limiting the amount of flexure of the back spring
section 38 to an appropriate range, stress that arises at the back
spring section 38 that is made of resin can be mitigated also when
an excessively large load is applied to the back spring section
38.
[0129] Further, because the above-described limiting component is
structured by the back board portion 36, the number of parts does
not increase. Therefore, a flexure amount limiting effect of the
back spring section 38 can be obtained without leading to an
increase in costs due to an increase in the number of parts.
[0130] Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, because the
back board portion 36 is disposed at the back surface of the seat
back 12, even if the leg portions of a passenger seated in a rear
seat abut the back board portion 36, a large load is not applied to
the leg portions of the passenger. Accordingly, felt or the like,
that is provided so that the leg portions of a passenger seated in
a rear seat do not directly hit seat springs (S springs) made of
metal, can be omitted.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0131] Next, a second exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat is
described using FIG. 5 through FIG. 7. The same structural portions
as the first exemplary embodiment are denoted by the same numbers,
and description thereof is omitted.
[0132] The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 has a
feature in which a concave portion 102, that serves as a limiting
component that is concave toward the vehicle front side, is formed
in the back board portion 36 of a seat back board 100. In the first
exemplary embodiment, the board main body 40 of the back board
portion 36 limits the amount of flexure of the lower back spring
main bodies 48 and the upper back spring main body 54, but the
present exemplary embodiment is configured such that a bottom wall
102A of the concave portion 102 limits the amount of flexure of the
lower back spring main bodies 48 and the upper back spring main
body 54.
[0133] Hereinafter, the structures that differ from the first
exemplary embodiment, other than the above-described point, are
summarily described. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5
and FIG. 6, first, the planar sectional shape of a side frame 104
differs slightly from that of the side frame 26 of the
above-described first exemplary embodiment. Specifically, as shown
in FIG. 6, as seen in planar sectional view, the side walls are
structured by a front side wall 104A and a rear side wall 104B that
are bent toward the seat transverse direction outer side at the
front-rear direction intermediate position of the side frame 104,
and a front wall 104C that is bent from the front end of the front
side wall 104A toward the central direction of the seat transverse
direction, and a rear wall 104D that is bent from the rear end of
the rear side wall 104B toward the central direction of the seat
transverse direction.
[0134] As shown in FIG. 5, lower back spring main bodies 107 and
the upper back spring main body 54 of the seat back board 100 are
connected integrally by a pair of left and right connecting/fixing
portions 108. Accordingly, a back spring section 106 includes the
plural lower back spring main bodies 107 and the single upper back
spring main body 54 and the pair of connecting/fixing portions 108.
Further, the planar sectional shape of the connecting/fixing
portion 108 is structured by three walls that are an inner side
wall 108A, an outer side wall 108B, and a front wall 108C that
serves as an abutting surface and connects the front ends of the
inner and outer side walls 108A and 108B in the seat transverse
direction, so as to conform to the planar sectional shape of the
side frame 104. The inner side wall 108A is structured as an
inclined wall that opens toward the seat transverse direction outer
side. Further, the front wall 108C abuts the front wall 104C of the
side frame 104 in a planarly-contacting state, and the outer side
wall 108B abuts the front side wall 104A of the side frame 104 in a
planarly-contacting state. The outer side wall 108B is fixed by an
unillustrated fixing means to the side frame 104. Moreover,
wave-shaped portions 107A of the lower back spring main bodies 107
are not formed over the entire region in the longitudinal direction
of the lower back spring main bodies 107, and are formed partially
at plural places in the longitudinal direction (at two places to
the left and the right in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5
and FIG. 6).
[0135] (Operation and Effects)
[0136] In accordance with the above-described structure as well,
the basic structure is the same as the first exemplary embodiment,
and therefore, operation and effects that are similar to the first
exemplary embodiment are obtained.
[0137] In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the wall
of the limiting means is structured at the back board portion 36 by
the bottom wall 102A of the concave portion 102 that is concave
toward the back spring section 106. Therefore, by varying the depth
of the concave portion 102 at the time of resin molding of the back
spring section 106, an amount of flexure .delta.2 (see FIG. 6) of
the back spring section 106 can be limited to any extent. Further,
the concave portion 102 can be utilized as a space for leg
placement of a passenger who is seated in a rear seat. As a result,
adjustment of the flexing limit of the back spring section 106 can
be carried out easily, and the leg placement ability of a passenger
seated in a rear seat can be improved. The concave portion 102 can
also be utilized as a storage space for magazines or the like.
[0138] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the
wall that serves as the limiting component is provided by forming
the concave portion 102 in the back board portion 36, but
embodiments are not limited to the same. For example, as shown in
FIG. 7, the wall that serves as the limiting component may be set
by forming step portions 112 at both ends in the seat transverse
direction of the back board portion 110. In this case, the step
portions 112 limit the amount of flexure of the back spring section
106.
[0139] Further, rather than a structure that is formed integrally
with the back board portion 36 such as the concave portion 102 or
the step portions 112, the amount of flexure of the back spring
section 106 may be limited by mounting a separate part that serves
as a limiting component to the board main body 40.
Third Exemplary Embodiment
[0140] Next, a third exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat is
described using FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. The same structural portions as
the first exemplary embodiment and the like are denoted by the same
numbers, and description thereof is omitted.
[0141] As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the third exemplary
embodiment has a feature in which a seat back board 120 is
structured by using lower cloth springs 122 and an upper cloth
spring 124. Namely, the first exemplary embodiment is structured
such that the lower back spring main bodies 48 and the upper back
spring main body 54 of the seat back board 16 are all made of resin
and flexurally deform, but, in the present exemplary embodiment,
the lower cloth springs 122 and the upper cloth spring 124 are used
instead of the lower back spring main bodies 48 and the upper back
spring main body 54.
[0142] Specifically, the lower cloth springs 122 and the upper
cloth spring 124 are respectively formed in the shapes of strips
that are long in the seat transverse direction. In correspondence
therewith, fixing portions 126, that are parallelepiped and
block-shaped and are for fixing ends 122A in the longitudinal
direction of the lower cloth springs 122 and ends 124A in the
longitudinal direction of the upper cloth spring 124, are formed
integrally with inner side walls 108A of connecting/fixing portions
108. The ends 122A in the longitudinal direction of the lower cloth
springs 122 and the ends 124A in the longitudinal direction of the
upper cloth spring 124 are embedded in the fixing portions 126 at
the time of resin molding of the seat back board 120. Due to load
of a predetermined value or more being applied toward the seat back
rear side, the lower cloth springs 122 and the upper cloth spring
124 flex in the load application direction and elastically deform.
The lower cloth springs 122 and the upper cloth spring 124 do not
come out from the fixing portions 126.
[0143] (Operation and Effects)
[0144] In accordance with the above-described structure as well,
the basic structure is the same as the first exemplary embodiment,
and therefore, operation and effects that are similar to the first
exemplary embodiment are obtained.
[0145] In addition, as compared with springs that are made of
resin, the springs that are made of cloth such as the lower cloth
springs 122 and the upper cloth spring 124 are superior in that it
is difficult for creep deformation to occur, they are strong
against fatigue, and that there is little change in the seating
comfort due to temperature-dependent characteristics (expansion in
a high-temperature environment and contraction in a low-temperature
environment and the like). Accordingly, the cushioning performance
of the seat back 12 can be improved even more.
Fourth Exemplary Embodiment
[0146] Next, an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat and a seat
back board is described using FIG. 10 through FIG. 13. The same
structural portions as the above-described exemplary embodiments
are denoted by the same numbers, and description thereof is
omitted.
[0147] <Main Structure>
[0148] Here, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11, the pair of upper
connecting/fixing portions 56 are formed integrally with the both
ends 54B in the seat transverse direction of the upper back spring
main body 54. The pair of upper connecting/fixing portions 56 is
set to a longitudinal direction dimension that is accommodated
between the side walls 26A of the side frames 26 and also includes
the upper back spring main body 54 as well.
[0149] The upper connecting/fixing portion 56 projects-out toward
the seat back transverse direction outer side, and is formed in a
step shape in planar sectional view. Specifically, the upper
connecting/fixing portion 56 is structured by an extending portion
56A that extends as is from the end 54B in the seat transverse
direction of the upper back spring main body 54 toward the seat
transverse direction outer side, an intermediate portion 56B that
is bent from the distal end of the extending portion 56A obliquely
toward the seat back rear side, and a fixing portion 56C that is
bent from the distal end of the intermediate portion 56B toward the
seat transverse direction outer side.
[0150] The extending portion 56A extends toward the side frame 26
in order to connect the upper back spring main body 54 to the side
frame 26. Further, the intermediate portion 56B serves to connect
the distal end of the extending portion 56A to the rear wall 26C
that is the region of fixing to the side frame 26. The amount of
offset, toward the seat back rear side, with respect to the
position of fixing the lower back spring main bodies 48 to the side
frame 26 is obtained (can be adjusted) due to the existence of the
intermediate portion 56B. Moreover, the fixing portion 56C serves
to fix the end 54B in the seat transverse direction of the upper
back spring main body 54 to the rear wall 26C of the side frame 26.
The upper connecting/fixing portion 56 is fixed to the side frame
26 by the fixing portion 56C being fixed, from the seat back front
side, to the mounting hole 34 of the rear wall 26C by an
unillustrated fixing means. Note that any of various configurations
such as a configuration in which a resin clip is formed integrally
with the fixing portion 56C and is engaged with the mounting hole
34, or a configuration that fastens by a fastening tool such as
rivets, screws, or bolts and weld nuts or the like, or a
configuration of adhering by an adhesive or the like, can be used
as the fixing means.
[0151] (Operation and Effects)
[0152] The operation and effects of the present exemplary
embodiment are described next.
[0153] The above-described vehicle seat 10 has the seat back board
16 at which the back spring section 38 that is made of resin is
formed integrally with the back board portion 36 that is made of
resin. Further, this seat back board 16 is fit-together, from the
vehicle front side, with the seat back frame 14 that is made of
metal. Specifically, the lower connecting/fixing portions 50 are
fit-together with the side frames 26 from the vehicle front side,
and, in this state, are fixed to the side frames 26 from the seat
transverse direction outer sides. Further, the upper
connecting/fixing portions 56 are inserted into the inner sides of
the side frames 26 from the vehicle front side, and thereafter, are
fixed to the rear walls 26C from the vehicle front side.
Thereafter, the seat back pad 18 is mounted to the seat back frame
14 from the vehicle front side, and further, the cover 20 is placed
on the seat back pad 18. The vertical mounting members 22 and the
lateral mounting member 24 are fixed in advance to the cover 20 by
sewing, and, while the cover 20 is being placed on the seat back
pad 18, the vertical mounting members 22 and the lateral mounting
member 24 are inserted in the corresponding vertical slits 72 and
lateral slit 70, and are anchored to the vertical resin claws 58
and the lateral resin claws 60, respectively. Moreover, the outer
periphery anchor portion 80 of the cover 20 is anchored to the
anchor portion of the back board portion 36.
[0154] The seat cushion 11 and the unillustrated headrest are
mounted to the seat back 12 that is assembled as described above,
so as to form the vehicle seat 10. When a passenger sits in the
vehicle seat 10, load toward the seat back rear side is applied to
the back spring section 38 via the cover 20 and the seat back pad
18. Therefore, the lower back spring main bodies 48 and the upper
back spring main body 54 flexurally deform toward the seat back
rear side that is the load application direction. Further, because
the load at this time is transmitted to the side frames 26 by the
lower connecting/fixing portions 50 and the upper connecting/fixing
portions 56, reaction force toward the vehicle front side is
generated from the side frames 26.
[0155] When load is applied from the passenger to the back spring
section 38 in this way, the back spring section 38 flexurally
deforms and contributes to ensuring the cushioning ability of the
seat back 12, and the load is transmitted to the side frames 26 and
supported at the side frames 26. As a result, the cushioning
performance of the seat back 12 is ensured sufficiently. Further,
because the back spring section 38 is made of resin and is provided
integrally with the back board portion 36, the number of parts and
the number of assembly processes is reduced as compared with a case
in which the back spring section 38 is structured by seat back
springs that are made of metal.
[0156] At the time of a rear collision, the passenger is pushed
against the seat back 12 by inertia. At this time, the chest (upper
portion of the back) of the passenger is supported by the upper
back spring main body 54 that is provided in correspondence
therewith, and the waist of the passenger is supported by the lower
back spring main bodies 48 that are provided in correspondence
therewith.
[0157] Here, in the present exemplary embodiment, the both ends 48B
in the seat transverse direction of the lower back spring main
bodies 48 are fixed to the front portions of the side frames 26
(i.e., the front sides of the side walls 26A) via the lower
connecting/fixing portions 50, whereas the both ends 54B in the
seat transverse direction of the upper back spring main body 54 are
fixed to the rear portions of the side frames 26 (i.e., the rear
walls 26C) via the upper connecting/fixing portions 56. Therefore,
the rise in the acceleration that is applied to the upper back of
the passenger at the time of a rear collision can be delayed.
Namely, if the both ends 54B in the seat transverse direction of
the upper back spring main body 54 were to be fixed to the front
portions of the pair of side frames 26 in the same way as the lower
back spring main bodies 48, the rise in the acceleration applied to
the upper back of the passenger would be earlier by an amount
corresponding to the amount because the fixed position is further
toward the seat back front side than in the structure of the
present exemplary embodiment. In contrast, when the fixed position
of the upper back spring main body 54 to the side frames 26 is
offset toward the seat back rear side as in the present exemplary
embodiment, the rise in the acceleration that is applied to the
upper back of the passenger can be delayed thereby. Accordingly,
the rise in the acceleration that is applied to the upper back of
the passenger can be made to be near the rise in the acceleration
of the head of the passenger.
[0158] This effect will be illustrated using FIG. 12. The behavior
of a dummy D at the time of a rear collision is shown in a side
view in FIG. 12. The state of the passenger before the rear
collision is shown by the solid lines and dashed lines P (what is
important is the dashed line portion showing the back of the
passenger). If the structure of the present exemplary embodiment
were not employed, the fixed position of the upper back spring main
body 54 to the side frames 26 would be at the front side of the
side frames 26, in the same way as the lower back spring main
bodies 48. Therefore, the upper back of the passenger is placed to
be sunk into the seat back 12 to the position shown by the one-dot
chain line Q before the rear collision. Further, because the upper
back of the passenger moves from this position toward the seat back
front side when the rear collision occurs, the position of the
one-dot chain line Q can be thought to be the rising position in
the acceleration that is applied to the upper back of the
passenger. However, in the case of the present exemplary
embodiment, the fixed position of the upper back spring main body
54 to the side frames 26 is set to be offset further toward the
seat back rear side than the fixed position of the lower back
spring main bodies 48. Therefore, the upper back of the passenger
is placed to be sunk into the seat back 12 to the position shown by
the two-dot chain line R, i.e., a deeper position (the seat back
rear side) before the rear collision. Further, because the upper
back of the passenger moves from this position toward the seat back
front side, the position of the one-dot chain line R can be thought
to be the rising position in the acceleration that is applied to
the upper back of the passenger. Accordingly, the difference
between the rising position in the acceleration that is applied to
the upper back of the passenger and that of the head of the
passenger is reduced (in other words, the distance between the head
of the passenger and the upper back of the passenger is reduced),
and the load to the neck of the passenger is reduced. Generally, at
the time of a rear collision, the upper back of the passenger that
is pushed against the seat back starts to move toward the vehicle
front side while the head of the passenger attempts to maintain the
state as is due to inertia. Therefore, relative displacement
between the head of the passenger and the neck of the passenger
arises, and this relative displacement becomes load to the neck of
the passenger.
[0159] Further, in accordance with the present exemplary
embodiment, a configuration is employed that provides a difference,
in the vehicle front-rear direction, between the fixed positions of
the upper back spring main body 54 and the lower back spring main
body 48 to the side frames 26, and therefore, the number of parts
does not particularly increase.
[0160] As a result, in accordance with the vehicle seat and the
seat back board relating to the present exemplary embodiment, the
load to the neck of a passenger at the time of a rear collision can
be reduced by a simple structure.
[0161] Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 13A, the end 54B in the seat transverse direction of the upper
back spring main body 54 is fixed to the rear wall 26C and not to
the side wall 26A of the side frame 26, by the upper
connecting/fixing portion 56. Therefore, when the load F is applied
toward the seat back rear side at the time of a rear collision, any
excess length is unlikely to arise at the upper back spring main
body 54. Namely, supposing that, as shown in FIG. 13B, an upper
connecting/fixing portion 92 that is L-shaped in planar sectional
view is formed integrally with the end in the seat transverse
direction of an upper back spring main body 90, and that this upper
connecting/fixing portion 92 is fixed to the side wall 26A of the
side frame 26, in this case, when the load F toward the seat back
rear side is applied, the upper connecting/fixing portion 92
exhibits a behavior such that a corner 92A of the upper
connecting/fixing portion 92 is pulled and extended obliquely
toward the rear side of the vehicle. Therefore, it is predicted
that the spring constant of the upper back spring main body 90
departs from the target value and that the amount of flexure
increases. In contrast, in the present exemplary embodiment, the
spring constant of the upper back spring main body 54 is
substantially as per the target value, and the error is small. As a
result, the accuracy with respect to reducing the load to the neck
of the passenger at the time of a rear collision can be
increased.
[0162] Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, the pair of
lower connecting/fixing portions 50 are provided at the both ends
48B in the seat transverse direction of the lower back spring main
bodies 48, and these lower connecting/fixing portions 50 are hooked
on (fit-together with) the side frames 26 from the seat back front
side. Therefore, at the time of sitting, the load received from the
passenger is transmitted from the lower back spring main bodies 48
to the side frames 26 via the pair of lower connecting/fixing
portions 50. At the time of a rear collision, because the fixed
position of the upper back spring main body 54 is offset further
toward the seat back rear side than the fixed positions of the
lower back spring main bodies 48, the upper back of the passenger
sinks into the seat back 12. As a result, in accordance with the
present exemplary embodiment, the load received from the passenger
at the time of sitting can be efficiently transmitted to the side
frames 26, and the load to the neck of the passenger at the time of
a rear collision can be effectively reduced.
[0163] Moreover, the plural lower back spring main bodies 48 are
provided in the seat back height direction, and the majority of the
load that is applied when the passenger sits is received while
being dispersed at these lower back spring main bodies 48.
Accordingly, the burden of the load on each of the lower back
spring main bodies 48 is reduced. Further, because the plural lower
back spring main bodies 48 support the waist of the passenger, the
cushioning ability at the time of sitting is improved. Accordingly,
the durability of the lower back spring main bodies 48 is improved,
and the cushioning ability at the time of sitting is improved such
that fatigue of the passenger can be reduced.
[0164] Moreover, the back board portion 36 that is formed by a
resin plate is disposed at the back side of the seat back frame 14.
Because the lower back spring main bodies 48 are provided
integrally with this back board portion 36 via the pair of lower
connecting/fixing portions 50, the back board portion 36 can be
used as a limiting component that limits the amount of flexure of
the lower back spring main bodies 48. Moreover, when the upper body
of the passenger abuts the back board portion 36 via the lower back
spring section, that load can be received by the back board portion
36 as well. Namely, the load transmission path from the waist of
the passenger can be made to be plural paths that are a path that
transmits load from the lower back spring main bodies 46 to the
side frames 26 via the pair of lower connecting/fixing portions 50,
and a path that transmits load from the back board portion 36 to
the side frames 26 via the pair of lower connecting/fixing portions
50. Accordingly, excessive load being applied to the lower back
spring main bodies 48 that are made of resin can be suppressed or
prevented, and load from the passenger can be supported using the
entire seat back board 16.
[0165] In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the back
spring section 38 that is made of resin is formed integrally with
the back board portion 36 that is made of resin, but embodiments
are not limited to the same. The back spring section that is formed
of resin may be provided integrally with the back board portion
that is made of resin. Namely, the back board portion and the back
spring section may be fabricated separately, and thereafter, the
both may be integrated by welding or the like. Moreover, the back
spring main bodies and the connecting/fixing portions that
structure the back spring section may be fabricated as separate
parts, and thereafter, may be integrated by welding or the
like.
[0166] Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiments, the
lower connecting/fixing portions 50 are described as elements of
the lower back spring section 44 (back spring section 38). However,
embodiments are not limited to this and the lower connecting/fixing
portions 50 may be regarded as being elements of the back board
portion 36. In the seat back board that has been assembled as a
completed product, it is merely a design matter as to whether the
connecting/fixing portions are regarded as being elements included
in the back spring section or in the back board portion.
[0167] Further, in the fourth exemplary embodiment, the both ends
54B in the seat transverse direction of the upper back spring main
body 54 are fixed to the rear walls 26C of the side frames 26 using
the pair of upper connecting/fixing portions 56 that are formed in
step shapes in planar sectional view. However, embodiments are not
limited to the same, and various shapes can be employed. For
example, if the positions, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of
the rear walls 26C of the side frames 26 and the upper back spring
main body 54 are not offset, the both ends 54B in the seat
transverse direction of the upper back spring main body 54 may be
extended as is toward the outer sides in the seat transverse
direction and fixed to the rear walls 26C of the side frames
26.
* * * * *